Death Penalty Ruled Unconstitutional in Arkansas

The Arkansas Supreme Court struck down the state's execution law today, calling it unconstitutional. In a split decision, the high court sided with 10 death row inmates who argued that, under Arkansas' constitution, only the Legislature can set execution policy. Legislators in 2009 voted to give that authority to the Department of Correction. Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said that at this point he doesn't plan to call a special session to address the court's ruling. "The death penalty is still the law in Arkansas, but the Department of Correction now has no legal way to carry out an execution until a new statute is established," Beebe said in a statement. WRCB-TV has the story